Container Device

ABSTRACT

A container device holds items such as toys or snacks in a manner that is accessible to a young child and closes automatically to prevent spillage of the items from the container device. The device includes a container defining an enclosed space. The container has only one opening into the enclosed space. A slit extends through the container defining the opening into the enclosed space. The container is resiliently deformable adjacent to the slit wherein the slit is configured for deforming as an item is passed through the slit.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to container devices and more particularly pertains to a new container device for holding items such as toys or snacks in a manner that is accessible to a young child and closes automatically to prevent spillage of the items from the container device.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a container defining an enclosed space. The container has only one opening into the enclosed space. A slit extends through the container defining the opening into the enclosed space. The container is resiliently deformable adjacent to the slit wherein the slit is configured for deforming as an item is passed through the slit.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a container device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

FIG. 6 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new container device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the container device 10 generally comprises a container 12 defining an enclosed space 14. The container 12 is sized to hold items 16 such as a toy as shown in FIG. 5. The container 12 may also be sized to hold food or snacks. The container 12 has only one opening 18 into the enclosed space 14. The container 12 may comprise a first section 20 and a second section 22 which are separable to provide enhanced access to the enclosed space 14. The second section 22 is couplable to the first section 20 wherein the first section 20 and the second section 22 define the enclosed space 14. The first section 20 has a convex outer surface 24 and the first section 20 and the second section 22 may each be substantially hemi-spherical wherein the container 12 is spherical when the first section 20 is coupled to the second section 22. The first section 20 is threadedly couplable to the second section 22 as shown in FIG. 4. The second section 22 has a planar section 26 defining a bottom 28 of the container 12. The planar section 26 may be parallel to the separation between the first section 20 and second section 22 such that the first section 20 rotates in a plane parallel to the planar section 26 when coupling and uncoupling the first section 20 and the second section 22. The first section 20 may be constructed of rubber, silicone, or the like. The second section 22 may be constructed of a rigid material such as high density polyethylene or the like.

A slit 30 extends through the container 12 defining the opening 16 into the enclosed space 14. The slit 30 extends through the first section 20 through the convex outer surface 24. The first section 20 has a substantially uniform thickness adjacent to the slit 30. The container 12 is resiliently deformable adjacent to the slit 30 wherein the slit 30 is configured for deforming as an item, fingers, or a hand is passed through the slit 30. The slit 30 undulates between opposite ends 32 of the slit 30. The shape of the first section 20 having a concave interior surface 34 and the convex outer surface 24 facilitates retention of the items within the enclosed space 14.

As shown in FIG. 6, a handle 40 is coupled to and extends from the container 12. The handle 40 has a pair of side sections 42 and a gripping section 44 coupled to and extending between the side sections 42. The gripping section 44 has a prolate spheroid medial portion 46 wherein the gripping section 44 is configured for facilitating gripping of the handle 40 by a young child. The side sections 42 extend from the second section 22 of the container 12.

In use, the container 12 is filled, typically be separation of the first section 20 from the second section 22. When reassembled, the container 12 may be given to a small child who can then carry the container 12 and access items such as snacks in the container 12 by reaching through the slit 30. The slit 30 temporarily deforms to provide access and returns to form such that items remaining in the container 12 are inhibited from spilling out of the container 12 even when the child holds the container 12 in an inverted position or with the slit 30 facing downwardly.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A container device comprising: a container defining an enclosed space, said container having only one opening into said enclosed space; and a slit extending through said container defining said opening into said enclosed space, said container being resiliently deformable adjacent to said slit wherein said slit is configured for deforming as an item is passed through said slit.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising said container comprising a first section and a second section, said second section being couplable to said first section wherein said first section and said second section define said enclosed space.
 3. The device of claim 2, further comprising said first section and said second section each being substantially hemi-spherical wherein said container is spherical when said first section is coupled to said second section.
 4. The device of claim 2, further comprising said first section being threadedly couplable to said second section.
 5. The device of claim 3, further comprising said second section having a planar section defining a bottom of said container.
 6. The device of claim 2, further comprising said slit extending through said first section.
 7. The device of claim 6, further comprising said first section having a convex outer surface, said slit extending through said convex outer surface.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising said slit undulating between opposite ends of said slit.
 9. The device of claim 2, further comprising a handle coupled to and extending from said container.
 10. The device of claim 9, further comprising said handle having a pair of side sections and a gripping section coupled to and extending between said side sections.
 11. The device of claim 10, further comprising said gripping section having a prolate spheroid medial portion wherein said gripping section is configured for facilitating gripping of said handle by a young child.
 12. The device of claim 10, further comprising said side sections extending from said second section of said container.
 13. A container device comprising: a container defining an enclosed space, said container having only one opening into said enclosed space, said container comprising a first section and a second section, said second section being couplable to said first section wherein said first section and said second section define said enclosed space, said first section having a convex outer surface, said first section and said second section each being substantially hemi-spherical wherein said container is spherical when said first section is coupled to said second section, said first section being threadedly couplable to said second section, said second section having a planar section defining a bottom of said container; and a slit extending through said container defining said opening into said enclosed space, said slit extending through said first section, said slit extending through said convex outer surface, said container being resiliently deformable adjacent to said slit wherein said slit is configured for deforming as an item is passed through said slit, said slit undulating between opposite ends of said slit.
 14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a handle coupled to and extending from said container, said handle having a pair of side sections and a gripping section coupled to and extending between said side sections, said gripping section having a prolate spheroid medial portion wherein said gripping section is configured for facilitating gripping of said handle by a young child, said side sections extending from said second section of said container. 